Latrobe is a town in northern

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, Australia on the Mersey River. It is 8 km south-east of Devonport on the Bass Highway. It is the main centre of the Latrobe Council. At the 2006 census, Latrobe had a population of 2,843. By the

2016 census Sixteen or 16 may refer to: *16 (number), the natural number following 15 and preceding 17 *one of the years 16 BC, AD 16, 1916, 2016 Films * ''Pathinaaru'' or ''Sixteen'', a 2010 Tamil film * ''Sixteen'' (1943 film), a 1943 Argentine film dir ...

, this had increased to 4,169. The locality is in the Latrobe Council area, but with a mere 0.1% in the

Kentish Council Kentish Council is a local government body in Tasmania, situated in the north-west of the state, to the south and inland from Devonport. Kentish is classified as a rural local government area and has a population of 6,324, the major towns of ...

LGA.

History

The area was first settled by B. B. Thomas in 1826 and, in 1861, the settlement was named for

Charles Joseph La Trobe Charles la Trobe, CB (20 March 18014 December 1875), commonly Latrobe, was appointed in 1839 superintendent of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales and, after the establishment in 1851 of the colony of Victoria (now a state of Australi ...

(1801–1875), the administrator of the colony of Tasmania. ''La Trobe'' Post Office opened on 31 August 1860 and was renamed ''Latrobe'' in 1873. Latrobe has a museum based in the old court house.

Facilities

The Mersey Community Hospital is located in Latrobe. It is approximately a 100-bed hospital that provides services including: ambulatory and emergency, general adult medicine, general paediatric medicine, general surgery including orthopaedic, ear, nose and throat, ophthalmological, certain oncology services, limited rehabilitation services and allied health support. From 1 September 2008, the Hospital is owned by the Commonwealth and operated by the Tasmanian Government. The main shopping district can be found along Gilbert Street where a number of hotels, cafes, restaurants and shops call home, such a
Supa IGA
Latrobe has a chocolate factory specialising in Belgian chocolates. There are aged care facilities in Latrobe such as Uniting AgeWell Strathdevon Community. The Australian Axemans Hall of Fame showcasing Australia’s

wood-chopping Woodchopping (also spelled wood-chopping or wood chopping), called woodchop for short, is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years in several cultures. In woodchopping competitions, skilled contestants attempt to be the first to cut or s ...

sporting champions is located on Bells Parade. The Big Platypus, one of

Australia's big things The big things of Australia are large structures, some of which are novelty architecture and some are sculptures. There are estimated to be over 230 such objects around the country. There are big things in every state and territory in contin ...

, is outside the museum. Latrobe BigPlatypus

Following flooding in 2016, work began on a flood mitigation system for the town involving both a

levee A levee (), dike (American English), dyke (Commonwealth English), embankment, floodbank, or stop bank is a structure that is usually earthen and that often runs parallel to the course of a river in its floodplain or along low-lying coastl ...

and diversion

culvert A culvert is a structure that channels water past an obstacle or to a subterranean waterway. Typically embedded so as to be surrounded by soil, a culvert may be made from a pipe, reinforced concrete or other material. In the United Kingdo ...

. Construction began in 2022 and is slated to finish in mid 2023.

Sporting activities

Latrobe's Henley-on-Mersey Regatta held on Australia Day 26 January each year at Belles Parade consists of

woodchopping Woodchopping (also spelled wood-chopping or wood chopping), called woodchop for short, is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years in several cultures. In woodchopping competitions, skilled contestants attempt to be the first to cut or s ...

Ferret The ferret (''Mustela furo'') is a small, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), evidenced by their interfertility. Other mu ...

racing,

Triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the d ...

, Iron Trial Strongman, Boat Race, Cherry Spitting and Gum boot throwing. The Christmas Carnival Series is a series of professional athletics and professional

cycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from tw ...

events. The boxing day carnival (26 December) is held at the Latrobe Recreation Ground. This event also stages a woodchopping event. Latrobe Football Club and Latrobe Cricket Club also utilize the Latrobe Recreation Oval. Latrobe Basketball Club play in the North West Basketball Union and play out of the Latrobe and Districts Youth Centre. Tennis is played at the Latrobe Tennis Club. Latrobe has a netball team that competes in the Devon Netball Association. Latrobe Speedway, a clay race track hosts Sprintcars, Street Stocks, AMCA Nationals, Bombers, Junior Sedans, Formula 500s, Modified Sedans, Karts, Wingless Sedans, Tassie Sixers, Speedcars, Caravan Derby and Demolition Derby.

Education

Education facilities include Latrobe Primary School,

Latrobe High School , motto_translation = Strength and stability , established = , status = Open , type = Government comprehensive secondary school , gender = Co-educational , educational_authority = Tasmanian Department of Educatio ...

, St. Patrick’s Catholic School and Geneva Christian College.

Notable people

* Darrel Baldock *

Dolly Dalrymple Dolly Dalrymple (1808–1864) was a half-caste Tasmanian Aboriginal woman. She was a known figure in the Tasmanian colonial legends. Biography Dolly Dalrymple was born on one of the Furneaux Islands, between Victoria and Tasmania, to Woretemoeteye ...

* Michael Fieldpolitician * Christine Milnepolitician * Teddy Sheean * James Monaghan Dooley - politician

References

External links

National Trust Tasmania - Images of Latrobe areaLatrobe Primary SchoolLatrobe High SchoolSt. Patrick’s Catholic School
{{authority control Localities of Latrobe Council 1826 establishments in Australia